Notions of Masculinities and Their Influence on Young Male Suicide

1852 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: social construction of masculinity and femininity

Globally, there is a growing trend; some may even suggest an epidemic of youth suicide. However, it is more notable to mention, it is an increase in young male suicide compared to all other suicide that is troublesome. Over the past 30 years in Australia, suicide rates for the male age range of 15-24 years old has steadily increased and now accounts for 20% of one in five of all deaths in this age range. (Australian Government, 2007). However, Australia isn’t alone in this trend, youth suicide is among the first to third leading killer of young people, especially males, in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and many Western European countries (Gruber, 2001) Additionally, suicide is the second largest killer for the age group of 10-24 year old males worldwide (World Health Organisation, 2014). Although there are many factors that contribute to this growing trend such as, socio-economic status, location, race and culture, this paper will explore the affects that socially constructed ideas of masculinity have on the well-being of both children and adults (Courtenay, 2000). This paper will make reference to the historical, political and social construction of masculinities and include references to the local, national and global response to the growing trend of male youth suicide. Furthermore, a critical reflection will be provided that includes the understandings of the construction of masculinities, a recount of the research process and a discussion of new understandings about masculinities and what it is to be a global citizen. Finally, this paper will provide a lesson plan which reflects understandings of civics and citizenship with a specific focus on the area that has been researched throughout this essay, in the attempt to ...

... middle of paper ...

... (2012). Men and suicide. Why it is a social issue. Retrieved April 2014 from: http://www.samaritans.org/sites/default/files/kcfinder/files/Samaritans_Men_and_Suicide_
Report_web.pdf

Shuster, C., (2000). Emotions Count: Scaffolding Children’s Representations of Themselves and Their Feelings to Develop Emotional Intelligence. Retrieved April 2014 from: http://ecap.crc.illinois.edu/pubs/katzsym/shuster.pdf

United Nations, (1990). United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. New York, USA. United Nations General Assembly

World Health Organisation, (2014). Mental Health: Suicide Prevention (SUPRE). Retrieved April 2014 from: http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/

Zambo, D. & Brozo, W., G. (2009). Bright Beginnings for Boys. Engaging Young Boys in Early Literacy. Newark, USA. International Reading Association Inc.

Show More
Related

  • Suicide In Society: Suicide And Society

    1229 Words  | 3 Pages

    Suicide displays wide variation in race, gender, religion, and socioeconomic lines. Males are three to four times more likely to commit suicide than females (Moore, Recker, & Heirigs, 2014). By studying suicide and their triggers we can isolate issues in society and address them accordingly. That is a reason we need to know which changes are making more impact on individuals the rapid or slow ones and how they are affecting individuals’ acceptance within their groups?, Is technology advancement part of the problem? How is society facing suicides and what has been done to slow down the suicides rates? Which could be the lowest level where we can teach about reasons to commit suicide? By answering these questions I believe that more data can be collected to understand reason individuals commit suicide and society is deal with the

    Read More

  • Suicide in Bartleby and Life in the Iron Mills

    2668 Words  | 6 Pages

    Durkheim, Emile. Trans. John A. Spaulding and George Simpson. Suicide; A Study in Sociology. The Free Press, New York. 1987. Pgs. 297-325

    Read More

  • Adolescent Suicide

    2596 Words  | 6 Pages

    In a study released by Brown University, their psychology department shed some light on common myths and facts surrounded suicide. These m...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Toxic Masculinity And Murder

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    98 percent of mass murderers are men. According to Time in 2014, almost all rampage killers are men.This statistic startled me as I read "Toxic Masculinity and Murder" by James Hamblin of The Atlantic. In essence, this one figure demonstrates that masculinity is "a more common feature than any of the elements that tend to dominate discourse—religion, race, nationality, political affiliation, or any history of mental illness."

    Read More

  • The Growing Problem of Teen Suicide

    2340 Words  | 5 Pages

    A mother finds her 17 year old teenage son hanging from the rafters of their basement. To hear of this occurrence is not rare in society today. Every 90 minutes a teenager in this country commits suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds. The National suicide rate has increased 78% between 1952 and 1992. The rate for 15-19 year olds rose from two per 100,000 to 12.9, more than 600 percent. (Special report, Killing the Pain, Rae Coulli)

    Read More

  • Suicide, America’s Hidden Devastation

    1878 Words  | 4 Pages

    Suicide is one of the youth’s ways out of their problems, not only in the United States but the world. What does drive teens to suicidal thoughts and actions? What are the ways communities help prevent teenage suicide? Perhaps there are signs can be pointed out that would indicate a problem. In two surveys in 1996, both reported in the Journal of Adolescent Health, both also asked relatively the same questions of the violent actions that some people may see in life’. Surprisingly, the numbers for many of the questions were the same, such as teens who witnessed a shooting first hand; they both were about 37% (Pastore, Fisher, and Friedman 321-2). Using information such as this, one cannot blame the recent rise in teenage suicide with the violent problems of life, but more along the lines of depression caused by multiple things, for instance body image. According to many researchers, alcohol is many times a solution to a teen’s problem with life and the hardships people face in it. Many people in the United States overlook the major problem of teenage suicide; this is a mistake

    Read More

  • A Biological Look at Suicide

    2783 Words  | 6 Pages

    So begin the episodes of anguished soul-searching, of horrific "if-onlys" experienced by the family members of countless suicides. Anyone who has faced what Mr. and Mrs. A now grapple with knows that the girl is wrong: they will not be better off, not feel happier, without her. Yet each year, thousands of suicide victims express similar convictions: I am killing myself, they reassure us, for your own good. This thinking – this appeal for selflessness that our society cannot condone – where does it come from? Why, in truth, do people kill themselves?

    Read More

  • The Epidemic of Male Suicide

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” - Phil Donahue. As a complex, tragic public health issue, suicide occurs in men significantly more often than in women. Suicide is simply defined as the act of intentionally ending one’s own life, but the factors that play into a person making that decision are anything but simple. The most obvious and severe effect of suicide is the loss of a valuable, meaningful human life. According to Harvard School of Public Health (n.d.), suicide affects parents, children, siblings, friends, lovers and spouses; the loss for society is psychological, spiritual, and financial. People who lose a loved one to suicide often experience devastating effects and deal with a complex grief. These “suicide survivors” typically feel a range of emotions from sadness, blame, and guilt to extreme anger and confusion. “Suicide among males is four times higher than among females and represents 79% of all U.S. suicides” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 2012). This gender paradox is one of the most compelling components regarding who is most at risk to attempt suicide. Why is it that men commit suicide more often than women? More than four times as many men as women die by suicide because depressed men are less likely to seek out help, men typically use more violent, lethal methods and cannot be resuscitated, and men carry the pressure of employment, providing for and protecting a family, and maintaining relationships.

    Read More

  • Aboriginal People of Canada

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Chandler, Michael. "Self & Cultural Continuity as a hedge against youth suicide." university of british columbia, 7 february (2012).presentation.

    Read More

  • Youth Suicide

    940 Words  | 2 Pages

    The rates of suicide when focusing on gender differ from region to region, providing conflicting information on whether males or females are more at risk for suicide. Of teenagers aged 15-19 in ______, 9 out of 100,000 kids successfully committed suicide from 2005-2010 (Suicide Attempts)*. LGBT or other sexual minority children and teenagers also are at risk for committing suicide. Approximately 1 in 3 youths that consider themselves part of a sexual minority reported attempting suicide, compared to 1 in 12 heterosexual youths (Intersecting Identities)*. Warning signs of suicide include depression and withdrawal, risky or harmful activities, showing an interest in death or “making comments that things would be better without them” (Teen Bullying & Suicide)*.

    Read More

  • Suicide from a Psychological, Sociological and Anthropological Perspective

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Study of Suicide: An overview of the famous work by Emile Durkheim, Ashley Crossman, 2009, http://sociology.about.com/od/Works/a/Suicide.htm, 25/12/2013

    Read More

  • Children's Personal, Social and Emotional Development

    2056 Words  | 5 Pages

    UNICEF (1989) United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Available at: http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf (Accessed: 10 January 2014).

    Read More

  • Emile Durkheim and The Science of Sociology

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Durkheim, E. (1951). Suicide: A Study in Sociology. (J. A. Spaulding, & G. Simpson, Trans.)

    Read More

  • Social Workers: Influence of the Ecological Approach on Social Practice

    1288 Words  | 3 Pages

    United Nations (1989). Convention on the Rights of the Child.[online] Available at: [Accessed 1 April 2014].

    Read More

  • Suicide Prevention

    1876 Words  | 4 Pages

    “Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain” (I-10). Ending a life is a big step in the wrong direction for most. Suicide is the killing of oneself. Suicide happens every day, and everyday a family’s life is changed. Something needs to be done to raise awareness of that startling fact. Suicide is a much bigger problem than society will admit; the causes, methods, and prevention need to be discussed more openly.

    Read More

More about Notions of Masculinities and Their Influence on Young Male Suicide

Open Document